(a) The court requires the submission of filings in digital format as companions to the required number of copies of paper filings required under sections 500.10, 500.11, 500.12, 500.14, 500.20, 500.21, 500.22, 500.23, 500.24, 500.26 and 500.27 of this Part.

(b) The companion digital filings shall comply with the technical specifications and instructions for submission available from the clerk's office.

(c) The companion digital filings shall be identical to the original printed filings, except they need not contain an original signature.

(d) Unless otherwise permitted by the clerk of the court, companion digital filings required under sections 500.10, 500.11, 500.12 and 500.27 shall be received by the clerk's office no later than the filing due date for the printed filings. Companion digital filings required under sections 500.21, 500.22, 500.23 and 500.24 shall be submitted no later than seven days after the return date of the motion. Companion digital filings required under sections 500.20 and 500.26 shall be submitted within the time directed by the clerk of the court.

(e) A request to be relieved of the requirements of this Part to submit companion digital filings shall be by letter addressed to the clerk of the court, with proof of service of one copy on each other party, and shall specifically state the reasons why submission of companion digital filings would present an undue hardship. Such request shall be accompanied by unbound copies of the required printed filings.

(f) The clerk of the court may reject companion digital filings that do not comply with the requirements of this Part or the technical specifications and instructions for submission available from the clerk’s office.